Rabbit's build

TheRabbit

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Rabbit's build

#1

07-18-2012, 08:03 PM

Alright, here's my first attempt at a helmet, it came out pretty warped, and even though the helmet fits fine, I wouldn't be able to put padding in as well, so I'm redoing it slightly larger.

I started out pepping this with using my knife to score all the folds, so a lot of them came out uneven, which compounded into the errors seen. I built in this order: Right Jaw, Left Jaw, attached both to muzzle, Right Ear, Left Ear, back, top right rear, top left rear, mohawk, brim, top right front, top left front.

So with the second helmet I spent several hours scoring using pens. Thanks to advice from AI Blue Fox I'll be starting on the muzzle first, and building out from there.
Helmet Numero Dos:

Dos resined and fiberglassed:

Then I scaled and pepped a low definition chest piece to double check sizing:

And completed the HD chest:

Fiberglassed ab plate:

Currently working on fiberglassing the chest! Once the chest is complete I'll be working on the biceps.

Electronics:
Helmet fans:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...130-ND/1165524 5V, low dB, decent airflow, I'll likely use 2 of them.
Edit: Found a better fan:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...620-ND/2600074 5v, under 20 dB noise level, over 13 CFM, and only 0.40 W running power. It's also significantly cheaper than the other fan.

Helmet Flashlight LEDs:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...151-ND/1922946 3.2V, 28150 mcd, 15° viewing angle, 2 of them directed straight forward on the helmet. Might be too bright.

Helmet/body glow LEDs:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...151-ND/1956549 3.2V, 1885 mcd, 110° viewing angle, spread out on body where people typically mount their little glowy bits. I'm not positive that I want them yet, as it seems somewhat counterintuitive to what I want my build to end up like, I may go with no lights, or very dim glow lights.

I'm not sure what I'll do for body cooling yet, I've been working on a water cooled design, but it kind of depends on the undersuit I end up using, and I'm still working out the... kinks... If I can't get that figured out I found some awesome high CFM fans that I can mount in the chest to pump air through it:
http://www.digikey.com/product-detai...595-ND/2560718
But it also draws significant power, so batteries may become an issue. I also need to measure various parts of the chest and figure out where I'm going to mount them so I can decide which size fan I'm going to use.

I'm also considering wiring in a PA type system into the shoulders, but I need to do some further research on the power requirements and just how loud I can make it. At the same time I don't want to have to wear an extra 50 lbs of batteries just to power all this stuff. Compromises everywhere!

Latches:
Ok, here's the latches I think I'll use on the lower portion of the chest piece.
http://www.reidsupply.com/detail.asp...Fc_IKgoddkUAqQ
http://www.amazon.com/Southco-Inc-SC.../dp/B002HZVZ28 amazon link
Almost $11 each is kinda pricey, but I haven't been able to find any other powder coated options..

I'll use something similar, but cheaper and not as bulky looking for the upper clasps.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Small-Twist-...-/360405160348
http://www.yungkinghardware.com/prod...tail.asp?vid=3

Visor:
Couple options here. I think that I want a mirrored blue visor based on the paint scheme I want to do.
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...1&s=automotive

Also, there's this helmet liner:
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00...w_bottom_links

Last edited by TheRabbit; 08-28-2012, 11:51 AM.
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Psquiddy

Infantryman
- Join Date: May 2011
- Posts: 295
#2

07-18-2012, 08:16 PM

God luck on the next portion, from what I can gather from other people's builds, you might want to start with the roof of the helmet, then make your way to the visor and muzzle. That way, when you go to attach the jaws and rear, you have a point of reference to make sure it is symmetrical. Good luck, I'll keep tabs on this one!
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carpathiavh99

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#3

07-18-2012, 10:47 PM

I've always preferred the method of scoring with a knife best. You get cleaner lines.

You know, Rabbit, this helmet that is shown is not bad at all. If you install the supports, it would probably straighten out. I see far too many people build this helmet without the supports only to end up in disaster. The supports were designed in for a reason, and believe me (I ruined one of these because I didn't install the supports) THEY WORK!!! Don't sell yourself short, this helmet can be fine with a little more work!
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TheRabbit

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#4

07-18-2012, 10:50 PM

Originally posted by carpathiavh99 View Post

I've always preferred the method of scoring with a knife best. You get cleaner lines.

You know, Rabbit, this helmet that is shown is not bad at all. If you install the supports, it would probably straighten out. I see far too many people build this helmet without the supports only to end up in disaster. The supports were designed in for a reason, and believe me (I ruined one of these because I didn't install the supports) THEY WORK!!! Don't sell yourself short, this helmet can be fine with a little more work!

That's good to know about the supports, I didn't even consider adding them in, because I assumed (wrongly) they were for if you were using thinner paper and needed supports to have it stand upright.

At what stage should I add the supports in ideally?
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carpathiavh99

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#5

07-18-2012, 10:53 PM

Ideally, as you're building the helmet. If you try to put them in after the helmet is completed, it will be difficult, not impossible, but difficult. Yeah, they're there for a reason. When I resined the helmet I built without the supports, the brim sagged, badly, beyond any hope of repair. I'd hate to see the same thing happen here.
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TheRabbit

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#6

07-20-2012, 12:52 AM

OK, supports are awesome. Finished up the muzzle today on helmet #2. Seems to be coming along pretty well so far.

Last edited by TheRabbit; 07-20-2012, 09:05 PM.
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rainbow dash

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#7

07-20-2012, 04:51 AM

Apart from the slightly asymmetrical top, this helmet looks very good, clean and proper pepping, great work!
I hope you can fix it with the supports.
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Mstruvmgc

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- Join Date: Sep 2010
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#8

07-20-2012, 05:21 AM

First helmet is not as bad as you think. Did a good pep on it for sure.
The sencond one looks like it is coming together very well :-)
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drizzetsrevenge

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- Join Date: May 2011
- Posts: 116
#9

07-20-2012, 05:10 PM

im not seeing any pictures from helm 2.
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TheRabbit

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#10

07-20-2012, 05:14 PM

Originally posted by drizzetsrevenge View Post

im not seeing any pictures from helm 2.

Imageshack seems to be really slow... I'll see about getting them hosted elsewhere.
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AI Blue Fox

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#11

07-20-2012, 07:21 PM

Rabbit, it looks good. for image hosting I suggest photobucket, which comes with a IMG link that you can click on to quickly copy and paste it. Keep up the good work!
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TheRabbit

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#12

07-20-2012, 09:05 PM

Ok, updated photos with photobucket.
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DocDailey

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#13

07-20-2012, 10:32 PM

I think your being too critical of your 1st helmet. I virtually couldn't see the defects you described. I'm super critical of my stuff as well, but ONLY just before I'm done painting it. If you want people to see you in this remember.....

They will be standing 5-6ft away from you to take in the whole costume. You never see zoomed in pics of peoples armour because you'll start to see the imperfections. Your going for the look, not super game accurate as a noob. (which I am and why I'm not sweating the details right now)

Besides for a 1st attempt you are doing very well. Very well indeed.
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SpartanT117

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#14

07-21-2012, 12:50 AM

Originally posted by DocDailey View Post

I think your being too critical of your 1st helmet. I virtually couldn't see the defects you described. I'm super critical of my stuff as well, but ONLY just before I'm done painting it. If you want people to see you in this remember.....

They will be standing 5-6ft away from you to take in the whole costume. You never see zoomed in pics of peoples armour because you'll start to see the imperfections. Your going for the look, not super game accurate as a noob. (which I am and why I'm not sweating the details right now)

Besides for a 1st attempt you are doing very well. Very well indeed.

Listen to Docdailey's wisdom, you should.
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TheRabbit

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#15

07-21-2012, 02:54 PM

Originally posted by DocDailey View Post

I think your being too critical of your 1st helmet. I virtually couldn't see the defects you described. I'm super critical of my stuff as well, but ONLY just before I'm done painting it. If you want people to see you in this remember.....

They will be standing 5-6ft away from you to take in the whole costume. You never see zoomed in pics of peoples armour because you'll start to see the imperfections. Your going for the look, not super game accurate as a noob. (which I am and why I'm not sweating the details right now)

Besides for a 1st attempt you are doing very well. Very well indeed.

Thank you for the comments, but one thing I've learned from doing body work on cars and motorcycles is that the better the prep work, the better the end result. I'm sure I could have resin'd that first helmet, and after bondoing and sanding it would have been clean enough... But, I would much rather have the base that I am working from be as close to perfect as possible, and improve on it from there, rather than try and fix things I messed up in the early stages.
Afterall, it is my first attempt at a helmet, and nobody expects their first attempt to come out great.
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